Fountain Gate FC vow to comeback stronger in Mainland League

Dar es Salaam. Chief Executive Officer of Fountain Gate FC, Tabitha Kidawawa, has vowed to lead the club into a new era of ambition and resilience after successfully avoiding relegation from the Tanzanian Premier League.

A bold statement following their crucial playoff victory, Kidawawa promised that Fountain Gate will not only aim to survive next season—but to thrive.

“We are grateful to have secured our place in the league, but we will not settle for mediocrity,” said Kidawawa. “We’ve seen what it takes to survive, and now it’s time to raise the bar.

 We will strengthen the squad with top-level talent and reinforce our technical bench to ensure we become a competitive side in the 2025/26 campaign.”

Fountain Gate sealed their top-flight status with an impressive 5-1 aggregate win over Stand United in the relegation playoffs.

After a strong 3-1 first-leg victory at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga, the team delivered a confident 2-0 win in the second leg at Tanzanite Kwaraa Stadium.

The result was met with celebration by thousands of fans from Manyara and surrounding regions who packed the stadium to show their support.

The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when Fountain Gate’s midfield dynamo, Eli Mukono, fired a stunning shot from outside the box to open the scoring. Mukono’s goal lifted the energy inside the stadium and gave the team the momentum they needed.

The victory was sealed in the 90th minute when Edgar William converted a penalty, sparking wild celebrations among players and fans alike. Despite putting in a strong effort, Stand United were unable to break through Fountain Gate’s defense.

They created several clear chances in the second half but were wasteful in front of goal—ultimately paying the price for missed opportunities

Kidawawa praised her team’s character and unity in what she described as “one of the most difficult seasons” in the club’s history.

 “We had a rough start and results didn’t go our way, but when our backs were against the wall, the players, coaches, and fans stood up and fought together,” she said.

“It’s that spirit we want to carry forward.” Fountain Gate had finished the regular season 14th in the league table with 29 points from 30 matches.

Their initial relegation playoff against Prisons FC ended in disappointment after a 1-1 draw in the first leg and a 3-1 loss in Mbeya, resulting in a 4-1 aggregate defeat. That loss pushed them into a second and final play-off against Stand United, who had themselves overcome Geita Gold 4-2 on aggregate.

With Mbeya City and Mtibwa Sugar earning promotion to the Premier League next season, and KenGold and Pamba FC relegated, Fountain Gate now has another opportunity to prove they belong in the top tier.

Kidawawa concluded with a message of hope and determination: “We’ve learned valuable lessons. Now it’s time to work smarter and harder. Expect a different